Qibla finder / Canada

Qibla direction from Surrey, 16.9° north-northeast.

From Surrey, BC, face 16.9° clockwise from true north to face the Kaaba in Makkah, 11,986 km away. With a magnetic compass, face 1.7°.

Qibla from Surrey16.9°

north-northeast (NNE), from true north

Distance to the Kaaba
11,986 km (7,448 miles)
Magnetic compass bearing
1.7°
Magnetic declination
15.3° east
City centre
49.1063, -122.8251

How to face the qibla

Stand with a compass and turn until it reads 1.7°. That is 16.9° from true north, adjusted for the 15.3° east magnetic declination in Surrey. Or open the live compass on your phone.

Worked out for the centre of Surrey. Across the city the direction changes by less than a degree.

Guide

Why the qibla is north-northeast from Surrey.

The qibla is the direction of the Kaaba, measured along the shortest path over the globe. From Surrey that path leaves heading north-northeast, at 16.9° from true north. Flat maps distort this route, so it can look wrong on a map even though it is the true direction.

A compass points to magnetic north, which in Surrey is 15.3° east of true north this year, by the World Magnetic Model 2025. That is why the compass bearing, 1.7°, differs from the true bearing.

Hanafi position

Someone far from Makkah faces the direction (jihah) of the Kaaba. A small turn to the left or right does not affect the prayer, and a prayer made after a genuine effort stays valid even if you later learn you were slightly off.

Other madhhabs
Shafi'i
The stronger view is to aim at the Kaaba itself by your best effort, even from far away.
Maliki, Hanbali
Facing the direction is enough, as in the Hanafi school.

Qibla from other cities in Canada

CityQiblaDirection
Toronto, ON54.6°NE
Mississauga, ON54.4°NE
Ottawa, ON57.2°ENE
Montreal, QC58.7°ENE
Calgary, AB25.0°NNE
Edmonton, AB25.3°NNE
Vancouver, BC16.7°NNE
Brampton, ON54.3°NE
Hamilton, ON54.3°NE
Laval, QC58.6°ENE
Winnipeg, MB40.0°NE
Vaughan, ON54.5°NE
Pickering, ON54.7°NE
Regina, SK33.5°NNE
Halifax, NS65.6°ENE
Moncton, NB64.9°ENE
Kingston, ON56.6°ENE
Gatineau, QC57.2°ENE
Barrie, ON54.3°NE
Burlington, ON54.3°NE
Oakville, ON54.4°NE
Fort McMurray, AB26.9°NNE
Richmond Hill, ON54.5°NE
Oshawa, ON55.0°NE
Longueuil, QC58.8°ENE
Guelph, ON54.0°NE
Victoria, BC16.5°NNE
Burnaby, BC16.8°NNE
Peterborough, ON55.3°NE
St. John's, NL73.4°ENE
Kitchener, ON53.8°NE
Scarborough, ON54.7°NE
Whitby, ON54.9°NE
Etobicoke, ON54.4°NE
Cambridge, ON53.9°NE

The rulings on this page are pending review by the scholars on our team.

Questions

Good to know.

What is the qibla direction from Surrey?

The qibla from Surrey, BC is 16.9° from true north, which is north-northeast. With an ordinary magnetic compass, face 1.7°.

How far is Surrey from Makkah?

About 11,986 km (7,448 miles) in a straight line over the globe.

Why is the qibla north-northeast from Surrey?

The qibla follows the shortest route over the curved Earth to the Kaaba, called a great circle. On a flat map this route looks curved, so the direction can look different from what a map suggests.

How exact do I need to be?

In the Hanafi school, someone far from Makkah faces the general direction of the Kaaba. A small turn to either side does not affect the prayer. Do your best, or follow the direction of your local masjid.